07. Ludwig Hilberseimer, Plan of Chicago with rectangular communities, c.1955.
In this diagram, also from The Nature of Cities (1955), Hilberseimer illustrates two core themes in his work: functional reorganization (or replanning) and rectangular (or square) communities. The former refers to Hilberseimer's belief that reorganization of the city into residential, commercial, and industrial zones was critical to its well-being. In the diagram, the circles represent smoke and pollution zones emanating from industrial areas; the darker the shading, the heavier the pollution. The rectangular shaded boxes represent residential communities of 50,000 to 70,000 people built to include offices, stores, and factories "so that workers may have opportunity for varied employment and for a diversified life."

"Chicago Looks Ahead: 100 Years of Planning, 1909-2009," Case 4, Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, September 29–December 1, 2010
Link to R&B Archives Digital Collections record